Electric barbecue



April 2, 1935 J. H. LANGENFELD 1,996,297

ELECTRIC BARBECUE April 2, 1935 i J. H. LANGENFELD 1,996,297

ELECTRIC BARBECUE Filed April 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Shee'l 2 L 44 Ti/Uenor APll 2, 1935-- J. H. LANGENFELD 1,996,297

ELECTRIC BARBECUE Filed April 27, '1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W/UeW/O?" /77 y -s ZEorZY/eys Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT Lor-fries ....lm... Application April 21, 1933, Serial No. 862.151 1cm. ictusisi This invention relates to an electric barbecue for use in barbecuing meats oi.' different type and for use in toasting sandwiches.

Itis the general object of the invention t pro vide a novel and improved barbecue operated by `ius electricity and oi cheap and simpleconstruction.'

4.the barbecue including electrical heating e1e' ments protected to preventinjury to the same from grease splatteringirom the meats cooked by the barbecue.

Itis another object to provide a novel andimproved heating element assembly, which can be readily removed for cleaning or for replacement of certain ofthe heating elements.

A further 'object is to provide a novel and improved time switch'ior use in the barbecue.

`Yet another object is to provide novel holders for 'meats and sandwiches for use with the bar- The objects and advantages of the present invention willmore iully appear from the Afollowlng description, made in connection with accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section tak'en through the barbecue shown in. Fig. l; y

' Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows:

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows:

' Fig. 6 is a vertical lsection taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrows; l Fig. 7 is a vertical section takenon the line 1-1 of Fig. 6, as indicated by the arrows;:

. Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating one. type oi' holder that may be used for cookingm'eatsln the barbecue;

- Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a second type 'of holder that may be employed; and

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation illustrating a third type of holder that may be used for cooking wieners.

' In accordance withthe invention'there is pro,- vided a rectangular casing Il divided ,by apap titlbn i 2 into a large heating chamber ligand a smaller switch chamber I4. In the illustrated embodiment, casing il is shown as4 being formed chiefly by two plates ila and Hb, each oi. which is of general channel-shape in lhoriztontal cross section.v The ends of thesezplates are brought into abutment and are secured as by means of screws to side flanges formed on the partition l2.

Closing the tops o! the two chambers I3 and Il' is a top plate l! secured to inturned `flanges formed on the plates llo and Illrat the ends of the casing and also secured to an inturne'cl flange at the upper end of the' partitionl2. The two plates' lia and Il b are inwardly hanged at their bottoms at the ends of the casing and preferably hardhrubber Il are secured to these ila es at the tour corners of the casing to support he lower edge o! the casing in upwardly spaced relation from a supporting surface. The inturned being cut away at its lower portion to receive the outer end of the drip pan: Applied to the rear side of the casing Il near its upper end is a'longitudinally extending housii'ig 2l.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top plate I5 is shown as vbeing provided with two spaced parallel transversely extending slots ita, the material oi the top plate between the slots forming a rib lib.. Any number o! lslots similar to the slots Ila may be provided in the top plate depending on whether it is desired to make the barbecue of large capacity or oi small capacity. These slots lla of course lead into 'the heating chamber Il. Below the top plate I5,a pair of bars 2l are removably attached to the' sides of the easing as by means oi screws' 22. These bars are. located at the top oi the chamber i3 and extending transversely between and mounted in these bars 2| are three pair of transversely extending rodsll. One pair oi these rods are disposed in closely spaced relation adjacent but to I Fig. v.2. Near the bottom of the chamber I3,'a.

pair oi bars 24 are secured as by screws 2v`to the sides of the casing in oppositely facing relation 'and extending between and /xnounted inthese bars 2lare three transverse rods 2t. Each rod 26 is located below a pair of rods 23 midway between the two rods 23 above the same. A number of U-shapedrods 21V are provided which respectively run between a pair of rods 23 and the rod 26 below the same and each of these rods 21 has the function of a holder for a heating element and as a fender to prevent injury to the heating element held thereby. Eyes are formed at the ends of the rods 21 and the rods 23 project through these eyes. At their lower ends the rods 21 are crimped inwardly toward each other to form portions which encircle the rods 26 and closely spaced oppositely opposed spring shoulders 21a immediately above the rods 26.

Three electrical heating elements are provided and the two outer electrical heating elements may be designated by the numeral 28, while the inner heating element is designated by the numeral 29. The inner heating element 29 is of twice the capacity of the two outer elements 28 but otherwise the heating elements 28 and 29 are of very similar formation. `Each heating element 28 and 29 includes upper and lower metal strips 30 to which mica sheets 3| are attached and ribbons 32 of electrical conducting material having high resistance are applied to the mica sheets. The ribbons 32 are so placed on the elements 28'that the major portions of the ribbons are disposed on the ixmer faces of the mica sheets 3|,.whi1e the ribbons 32 are placed on the element 29 so that there is approximately an equal exposure of the ribbons on both faces of the mica sheets 3|. The heating elements 28 and 29 bear at their lower ends against the rods 26 and are so situated at their lower ends that the shoulders 21a of the rods 21 will resiliently clamp and anchor the lower parts of the heating elements in the manner of spring clips. The upper ends of the heating elements 28 and 29 are disposed between pairs of rods 23 and bear against the eyes formed at the ends of the U- shaped rods 21. The ends of the ribbons of the heating elements project into the housing 20 through quite large openings 33 formed in the rear wall of the casing II adjacent the upper end of the chamber I3.

It will be seen that the bars 2|, bars 24, rods 23, rods 26 and heating elements 28 and 29 form a unitary construction which can be removed from the casing I I when the top plate I5 and the screws 22 and 25 are removed. These parts of course may be assembled together for insertion into chamber I3, as the barbecue is being as sembled. It will also be seen that the heating elements 28 and 29 can be readily removed from and slipped into place within the holders formed by the rods 23, 26 and 21. Accordingly, worn or injured heating elements can be readily replaced or repaired.

Disposed within the housing 2|! and mounted on the rear side wall of the casing II is a panel l and 42. Openings 43 concentric with but smaller than the openings 33 are provided in the panel 34 and the ends of the ribbons of the heating elements 28 and 29 run through the" openings 43 without engaging the casing II. One end of the ribbon 32 of the right hand heating element 26 as viewed in Fig. 2 is connected to binding post 36, While the other end of this ribbon is connected to binding post 39a. One end of the ribbon 32 of the left hand heating element 26, as viewed in Fig. 2, is connected to the binding post 31 while the other end of this same ribbon is connected to the binding post 42. One end of the ribbon of heating element 29 is connected to binding post 40 while the other end of this same ribbon is connected to binding post 4I. Electrical conductors 44 and 45 are connected respectively to the binding posts 42 and 4I) and run through openings in the rear wall of the casing II into the switch chamber I4. `It will be seen that the two outer electrical heating elements 28 are connected in series and that the inner heating element 29 is connected in parallel with the outer elements. It will be understood that in place of the structure shown, any suitable means may be employed for connecting the outer heating elements in series and for connecting the inner heating element or elements in parallel with the outer elements.

Mounted on the end wall of the casing I I within the switch chamber I4 are a pair of oppositely opposed angular brackets 46 within which a cross shaft 41 is journaled. This cross shaft Vprojects through the front side of the casing II and carries a crank 48 equipped with a pointer 49 outwardly from the front wall of the casing. The pointer 49 works over a dial 50 printed or formed on the front side of the casing. The rear end of the shaft 41 may be suitably journaled in a bracket 5I mounted onV the end wall of the casing I I. A watch spring 52 is anchored at one end to one of the brackets 46 and is secured at its other end to the shaft 41. A pinion 53 mounted on the shaft 41 between the brackets 46 drives a shaft 54 rotatably mounted in the brackets 46 through a suitable gear train 55 mounted inthe brackets 46. The shaft 54 carries centrifugal arms (not illustrated) which act against a drum mounted on one of the brackets 46 and the drum and centrifugal arms together form a, centrifugal brake or regulator 56 which controls the speed of rotation imparted to the shaft 41 by the spring 52 after the shaft 41 has been turned to tension the spring. Any other suitable clockwork mechanism may be substituted for the spring 52, pinion 53, gear train 55 and centrifugal brake 5 6 to cause rotation of the shaft 41 at a regulated speed in one direction after it had been turned in an opposite direction.

Mounted on the end wall of the casing II within the chamber I4 is a bracket 51, vas best shown in Fig. 2, and carrying a block of insulation 59. Secured to this block 56 is an electrical s itch contact 59 having'a binding post 60. A

-shaped memberl 6I carrying a binding post 62 is also mounted on the block 58 in suchfrelation that it has no engagement (with the contact 59.

Pivotally mounted onthe U-shaped member 6| is a swinging switch contact 63 adapted for cooperative engagement with the contact 59. One end of a coiled spring 64 is-connected'to the swinging end of contact 63. and the other end of the spring is connectedto the outer end of an arm 65 pivotally mounted on a pivot 66- carried by a bracket 61 secured to the end wall of the casing II. This arm 65 carries an outwardly projecting pin 68 which normallyts within a notch 69a cut into the periphery 'of a disk 69 mounted on the shaft 41 along side of the arm 65. The disk 69 has a finger 69h which projects outwardly beyond The holder C with the wieners attached may then i the periphery of the disk to form a continuation of one wall of the notch 69a. A master switch 16 is mounted on the end wall of the casing Il within the chamber I4 and this master switch has a control key projecting outwardly through an opening in the end wall. Running into the chamber I4 through an opening in one wall thereof are a pair of electrical conductors 1| and 12 respectively which may be connected outside of the casing Il. to a suitable source of electrical supply. The conductor 1I runs to one vbinding post of the switch 16, while the conductor 45 runs to the other binding post of the switch 15. Conductor 12 is connected to the binding post .60, while conductor 46 is connected to binding post 62. i

For use in cooking meats, sandwiches, etc. in the barbecue, I have provided a number of differ- -ent types of food holders of special construction.

One of these is shown in Fig. 8. The yholder A there shown includes a pair of spaced plates 13 pivotally connected together at their lower edges by means of links 14 and having secured to their upper edges rods 15 which project from both side edges of the plates. Latches 16 are pivotally mounted on one of the rods 15 between the side edges of one of the plates 13 and these latches have one or more hook-like notches which may be engaged with the other rod 15. The holder A is particularly' adapted for cooking meats, such as ham, bacon, pork chops etc. In Fig. 9 there is shown a second type of holder B which is similar in all respects to the holder A with the exception that gratings 11 are substituted for the plates 13 of the holder A. The holder B is particularly adapted for use in Jcooking sandwiches, such as toasted cheese sandwiches etc.

In Fig. I6, a third type of holderC is illustrated and this holder is particularly adapted for use -in cooking wieners in the barbecue. The holder C includes a long rod 16 having a plurality ot downwardly extending rods 19 connected thereto, the rods 19 having loops 66 at their lower ends extending angularly to the main portions of the rods. The rods 19 may -be connected together near their lower ends `by means of a cross rod 6| andthe rods are equipped with projecting points 62 downwardly spaced from their point of engagement with the rod 16. A short cross piece 63 is secured to the rod 16 outwardly from the rods 19. It should be noted that the rods 15 an'd 16 and the rods of the holder B, corresponding to the rods 15 of holder A, .are quite long to form handles for the various holders.

The barbecue may be used for cooking many diil'erent types of food. If it is desired to cook a pork chop and wieners at the same time, for example, the holders A and C will be used. The pork chop may be inserted in place within the holder A by unlatching the latch bars 16, inserting the 'pork chop in place between the plates 13 and relatching the vlatch bars, whereupon the holder may be inserted through one of theslots la.l of the top plate of the barbecue, so that the holder takes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 between the two left hand heating elements 26 and 29. In this position, the rods 15 of the holder A rest upon the top plate l5, so as to suspend the holder with the pork chop adjacent the heating elements. The holder C is used for cooking the wieners and in positioning the wieners in place on the holder, they are ilrst inserted with their lower ends disposed through certain of the loops wieners are caused to be engaged by the points 62.

66, whereupon the upper parts of the l be inserted in place within the barbecue by dropping the holder through the right hand slot I5a, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The rod 16 will suspend the holder C -from the top plate l5 with the wieners located between the two right hand heating elements 26 and 29. The food is now ready to be cooked and the barbecue may be set in operation.

The master switch 16 is turned on, whereupo the crank 46 is revolved in a clockwise directionv to tension the spring 52 and cause the spring 52 to tend to move the shaft '41 in a counterclockwise direction. As the crank 46 is turned in a clockwise direction, the wall of the notch 69a of disk 69 will engage pin 66 of arm 65 to cause the outer.

end oi this arm to swing upwardly until the pin 66 has been carried out of the notch 69a. As this vin Fig. 2, binding post :1, bar as, binding posi 36', the right hand electrical heating element 26 as viewed in Fig. 2, binding post 69, bar 36, binding post 46, conductor 45, master switch 16 and conductor 1| back to the source of electrical supply. Aparallel circuit will'be established from binding post 4I` through electrical heating element 29 to binding post. .46. As the two electrical heating elements 26 are connected in series, and these elements are connected in -parallel to the element 29, considerably more power will be supplied to the element 29 than to either one of the twoelements 26 and the power supplied to the two elements 26 will equal the power supplied to the element 29. 'I'he electrical heating elements will, of course, heat up to supply heat evenly to l the various portions of the heating chamber I3 and cook the food held within the holders. Current will continue to be supplied to the various heating elements until such tiene` asi the spring 52 rotates the shaft 41 in a counterclockwise direction to such a point that the pin'66 on arm 65 falls within the notch 64a of disk 69. As this occurs', the end ofthe spring 64 connected tothe arm 65 will be swung downwardly past dead lcenter relative to tlieplvot of contact 63 and.I the tension on the arm to keep the pin 66 continf uously 'in contact with the periphery of disk 69. The length 'of time for which the barbecue is set, in operation can, of course, be determined by initially rotating the crank 46 in a clockwise dithe switch formed by thecontacts 59 and 63 may be closed.

y It should be noted that the rods 21 effectively protect the heating elements and 29 to prevent injury being done to the same as the holders are inserted, or withdrawn from the barbecue. Also these rods prevent the food from being spaced too closely to the heating elements. Any grease that may be formed during the time that the food is being cooked will drip directly into the drip pan I9 where it may be collected and re` moved as occasion demands. 'I'he rods 2G and 2l oder but slight obstruction to the ilow of grease and particles of food to the drip pan I9 and but very slight accumulation of grease and carbon form on these rods even after the barbecue is operated for a long period of time. It has already been explained that these rods may be readily removed for cleaning it desired.

Any one of the three types of holders A, B and C may be used for cooking the food in the barbecue. When the holder A is used, the plates 13 eiectively prevent grease from spattering from the food onto the heating elements. v'Ihis holder is also particularly eiIective for cooking bacon and thin slices of ham to prevent the same from curling.

It will be seen that a barbecue device of cheap and simple construction has been provided, which can, at all times, be kept sanitary. 'Ihe device has been used in actual practice and has been found to be effective for the purposes intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1. Anelectric barbecue having in. combination a compartment having side' and end walls and a top provided with a transverse aperture through which food may be inserted, pairs of closely spaced upper rods running between said side walls immediately below said top, one pair of rods being disposed adjacent but spaced from one side of said aperture and the other of said pairs being disposed adjacent but spaced from the other side of' said aperture, lower rods extending between said side walls below said upper rods and midway between each pair of upper rods and electrical heating elements resting at their lower ends againstsaid lower rods and received adjacent their upper ends between the spaced rods of said pairs.

2. An electricbarbecue having in combination a compartment having side and end walls and a top provided with a transverse aperture through which food may be inserted, pairs of closely spacedl upper rods running between said side walls immediately below said top, one pair of rods being disposed adjacent but spaced from one side o'f said aperture and the other of said pairs being disposed adjacent but spaced from the other side of said aperture, lower rods extending between said side walls belowsaid upper rods and midway between each pair of upper rods, U-shaped rods connected at their upper ends to said upper rods and running downwardly to embrace said lower rods, said U-shaped rods being crimped inwardly near their lower portions to form oppositely opposed resilient shoulders and electrical heating elements fitting between said shoulders, bearin'g at their lower ends against said lower rods'and received between pairs of said upper rods.

3. Anf' electric barbecue having in combination a compartment sideand end walls and a 'top provided .with a transverse aperture through which food may be inserted, pairs of closely spaced upper rods running between said side walls immediately below said top, one pair of said upper rods being disposed adjacent but spaced from one side of said aperture and the other of said pairs being disposed adjacent but spaced from the other side of said aperture, lower rods extending between said side walls below said upper rods and midway between each pair f upper rods, U-shaped fender rods connected at their ends to said upper rods,. embracing said lower rods at their lower ends and having inwardly crimped vportions forming oppositely opposed clips and electrical heating elements received between pairs of said upper rods and between said clips of said fender rods and bearing at their lower ends against said lower rods.

4. An electric barbecue comprising a compartment having'side and'end walls and a top provided with a transverse aperture through which food may be inserted,- pairs of closelyspaced upper rods running between said side walls immediately below said top, one pair of said upper rods being disposed adjacent but spaced from one side of the said aperture and the other of said pairs being disposed adjacent but spaced from another side of said aperture, lower rods extending between said side walls below said upper rods, U- shaped fender rods connected at their ends to said upper rods, engaging said lower rods and having inwardly crimped portions forming oppositely opposed spring clips and electrical heating elements received between pairs of said upper rods and between said clips.

5. An electric barbecue comprising a compartment having side and end walls and a top provided'with a transverse aperture through which food may be inserted, oppositely opposed upper bars removably attached to the side walls of said compartment, oppositely opposed lower bars removably attached to the side walls of said compartment below said upper bars, pairs of closely spaced upper'rods running between said upper bars immediately below said top, one pair ofsaid upper rods being disped adjacent one side of said aperture, and the other of said pairs being disposed adjacent the other side of said aperture, lower rods mounted in and extending between said lower bars, U-shaped fender rods connected at their ends to said upper rods, engaging said lower rods and having inwardly crimped portions forming oppositely opposed spring clips and electrical heating elements received between pairs of said upper rods and between said clips.

6. An electric barbecue comprising in combination a compartment having an opening therein through which food may be inserted for cooking, electrical heating elements within said compartment, a switch chamber, a shaft mounted for ro'- tation within said switch chamber, means for turning said shaft in a second direction after it has been originally rotated in a iirst direction, a disk mounted on said shaft, said disk having a notch cut in the periphery thereof, an electrical contact mounted' in iixed relation in said switch chamber, a pivotally mounted electrical contact for cooperative engagement therewith, an electrical circuit adapted to be established through said received within said notch and a spring connected at one end to said arm and at its other end to l said pivoted contact and so positioned as to Urge said pin into engagement with theperiphery of said disk and at the same time toproduce snap action of said movable contact relative to said fixed contact to carry the two contacts into and out of engagement as said arm is raised and lowered, said pin being adapted to be carried out of said notch to raise said arm andthrow said movable contact into engagement with said xed contact as said-shaft is .'otated inthe rst direction.

7. An electric barbecue comprising a compartment having a top provided with an elongated aperture through which4 food may be inserted,

electrical heating elements in said compartment laterally spaced from the sides' of said opening and projecting downwardly from said top in parallel spaced relation, cross rods disposed one at either side of each heating element adjacent the top of the compartment to receive .a heating element between the same and a cross rod disposed midway between each pair of said rst mentioned rods below the same and upon which the lower ends of said heating elements rest. 'JOI-IN H. LANGENFELD. 

